Marta Sánchez

Spanish dance-pop star Marta Sánchez first attained success as the lead vocalist for Olé Olé in the mid-'80s before embarking on an enormously successful solo career in the early '90s. She had originally replaced Vicky Larraz in Olé Olé and helped the band score its first big hit, "Lili Marlen," in 1986. Following this hit, she remained with the group until October 1991 when she signed with the Mercury Latino division of PolyGram and went solo. Her first album, Mujeres (1994), was an extravagant affair, featuring a legion of songwriters and session musicians. The album boasted the sensational hit "Desesperada" and became a huge success for Sánchez. Of course, more releases and success followed in the '90s, mostly on an annual basis for the Latin pop star: Woman (1994), My World (1995), Mi Mundo (1995), Azabache (1997), and Desconocida (1998). A series of best-of albums surfaced beginning in 1999 with Serie Millennium 21 while Sánchez continued on into the next decade with her recording career, beginning with One Step Closer in 2000.